Tamper-proof connector/adapter devices and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments of a tamper-proof adapter can be configured to provide interconnection of medical tubing or other devices with varying fitting or coupling types. In one embodiment, the adapter can permanently couple a first male Luer fitting to a second male ISO 80639-6 compliant fitting.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adapter for adapting a first coupling to one of a plurality of second couplings, the adapter comprising:
 a connector comprising a first fitting arranged at a first end of the connector and a second fitting arranged at a second end of the connector, the first fitting configured to accept the first coupling and the second fitting configured to accept said one of a plurality of second couplings, said one of a plurality of second couplings being different from the first coupling; 
 a shroud having a first end and a second end; and 
 at least one wing moveably connected to the connector and configured to be closeable around the first fitting and the first coupling such that the wing and the connector can be moved within the shroud from the first end of the shroud toward the second end of the shroud such that the shroud can be moved from an unlocked position where the second fitting and said one of a plurality of second couplings are substantially enclosed within the shroud to a locked position in which the first fitting and the first coupling are substantially enclosed within the shroud and the second fitting is at least partially exposed at the second end of the shroud; such that in the unlocked position, the second fitting is inaccessible; and in the locked position, the first fitting is inaccessible; whereby in the unlocked position, the adapter is accessible only to the first coupling; and in the locked position, the adapter is accessible only to said one of a plurality of second couplings. 
 
     
     
       2. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling and said one of a plurality of second couplings are different in respect to at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of: size, shape, type and gender. 
     
     
       3. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is one of a male or a female fitting and the second fitting is the other of the female or the male fitting. 
     
     
       4. The adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the first fitting is a female Luer fitting and the second fitting is a male 80369-6 connector. 
     
     
       5. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first fitting or the second fitting comprises a Luer fitting and the other of the first fitting or the second fitting comprises an 80369-6 connector. 
     
     
       6. The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to be removably coupled to the second fitting, wherein the cap can be selectively removed from the second fitting only when the connector is in the locked position. 
     
     
       7. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing comprises two wings moveably connected to the connector and configured to form a cylinder that closes around the first fitting and the first coupling. 
     
     
       8. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud further comprises external grips. 
     
     
       9. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises at least one ledge and at least one pin and the shroud comprises at least one longitudinal channel and at least one locking tooth, and further wherein when the connector is in the locked position, movement toward the first end of the shroud is prevented by projection of the at least one locking tooth into the at least one ledge and movement toward the second end of the shroud is prevented by projection of the at least one pin into the at least one longitudinal channel. 
     
     
       10. The adapter of  claim 1 , further configured to enter an intermediary locked position in which the connector and the at least one wing are moved within the shroud to a position between the first end of the shroud and the locked position, wherein the first fitting and the second fitting are enclosed within the shroud and the connector is prevented from movement toward the first end of the shroud in the intermediary locked position. 
     
     
       11. The adapter of  claim 10 , wherein the connector further comprises at least one locking slot, and further wherein when the connector is in the intermediary locked position, movement toward the first end of the shroud is prevented by projection of at least one locking tooth into the at least one locking slot. 
     
     
       12. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling is coupled to a first medical tubing and said one of a plurality of second couplings is coupled to a second medical tubing, and wherein fluid communication between the first medical tubing and the second medical tubing is established when the first coupling is coupled to the first fitting, the locked position is established, and said one of a plurality of second couplings is coupled to the second fitting. 
     
     
       13. An adapter for adapting a first coupling to one of a plurality of second couplings, the adapter comprising:
 a connector comprising a first fitting arranged at a first end of the connector and a second fitting arranged at a second end of the connector, the first fitting configured to accept the first coupling and the second fitting configured to accept said one of a plurality of second couplings; 
 a shroud having a first end and a second end; and 
 a first wing and a second wing each moveably connected to the connector and configured to form a cylinder substantially enclosing the first fitting and the first coupling such that the cylinder and the connector can be moved within the shroud from the first end of the shroud toward the second end of the shroud such that the shroud can be moved from an unlocked position where the second fitting and said one of a plurality of second couplings are substantially enclosed within the shroud to a locked position in which the first fitting is enclosed within the shroud and the second fitting is at least partially exposed at the second end of the shroud; such that in the unlocked position, the second fitting is inaccessible; and in the locked position, the first fitting is inaccessible; whereby in the unlocked position, the adapter is accessible only to the first coupling; and in the locked position, the adapter is accessible only to said one of a plurality of second couplings. 
 
     
     
       14. A method of adapting a first coupling to one of a plurality of second couplings, the method comprising:
 providing a connector comprising a first fitting at a first end of the connector and a second fitting at a second end of the connector, the first fitting configured to accept the first coupling and the second fitting configured to accept said one of a plurality of second couplings; 
 moveably coupling a first wing and a second wing to the connector such that the first and second wings can be selectively moved together to form a cylinder substantially enclosing the first fitting and the first coupling; and 
 slidably coupling a shroud having a first end and a second end to the connector such that the second fitting is arranged substantially within the shroud, and the cylinder and the connector can be slid together within the shroud from a first end of the shroud toward the second end of the shroud such that the shroud can be moved from an unlocked position where the second fitting and second coupling are substantially enclosed within the shroud to a locked position in which the first fitting and the first coupling are substantially enclosed within the cylinder and the shroud and the second fitting is substantially exposed at the second end of the shroud; such that in the unlocked position, the second fitting is inaccessible; and in the locked position, the first fitting is inaccessible; whereby in the unlocked position, the adapter is accessible only to the first coupling; and in the locked position, the adapter is accessible only to said one of a plurality of second couplings. 
 
     
     
       15. An adapter for adapting a first coupling to one of a plurality of second couplings, the adapter comprising:
 a connector comprising a first fitting and a second fitting configured to accept the first coupling and said one of a plurality of second couplings, respectively, the first fitting being at a first end of the connector and the second fitting being at a second end of the connector; 
 one or more wings coupled to the connector and configured to be closeable to form a cylinder around the first fitting and the first coupling; 
 a first shroud having a first end and a second end and an inner diameter sized to allow the connector and the cylinder to slide and rotate therewithin; and 
 a second shroud having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is coupled at the first end to the second end of the first shroud and having an inner diameter sized to allow the connector to slide and rotate therewithin, such that as the cylinder is advanced from the first end of the first shroud toward the second end of the first shroud, the connector rotates within the second shroud and moves toward the second end of the second shroud such that the second shroud can be moved from an unlocked position where the second fitting and said one of a plurality of second couplings are substantially enclosed within the second shroud to a locked position in which the connector is prevented from movement toward the first end of the first shroud, the first fitting is enclosed within the first shroud, and the second fitting is at least partially exposed at the second end of the the second shroud; such that in the unlocked position, the second fitting is inaccessible; and in the locked position, the first fitting is inaccessible; whereby in the unlocked position, the adapter is accessible only to the first coupling; and in the locked position, the adapter is accessible only to said one of a plurality of second couplings. 
 
     
     
       16. The adapter of  claim 15 , wherein the connector further comprises a first spiral threading configured to interact with a corresponding second spiral threading on an inner surface of the second shroud.